PUBLISHED BY RAILFUTURE – THE INDEPENDENT CAMPAIGN FOR RAIL No 158 £2 December 2018 Picture: WORCESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL COUNCIL Picture: WORCESTERSHIRE COUNTY BRITAIN’S NEWEST STATION: PAGE 2 PAGE ONE PICTURE Our page one picture shows Railfuture rides an elevator UK’s tram-train arrives at last! work on the new £35 million By Wendy Thorne world-class Worcestershire Parkway rail station Key members of Railfuture from progressing well in October, across the country practised with external steelworks and condensing the long list of Rail- glazing nearly finished. future successes into a convinc- ing 90-second “elevator pitch” The station is expected to open when they attended the annual next year and connects two branches and groups day in Bir- ABELL Pictures: PAUL lines on different levels. There mingham in October. will be one platform on the North Cotswold line and two The aim of an elevator pitch is to on the Birmingham to Bristol develop a message that would BAKE OFF: Celebration cake line. persuade someone to join Railfu- ture and to do this in a very short By Paul Abell A key priority for the council, space of time, ideally the length [email protected] which is funding the project, of time it would take an elevator is to link Worcester into the to go from the ground floor to the The tribulations of the tram-train CrossCountry train network top floor in a skyscraper. project have been reported at but it also hopes the station length, but happily 25 October That is probably the same will provide quicker and more saw the public service between amount of time one might have frequent services to London. Sheffield Cathedral, Rotherham to pitch Railfuture’s case to any- Central and Parkgate inaugu- The station will also feature one attending a membership rated with some aplomb by Shef- a 500-space car park and the recruitment stall. “competitive” charges will help SEEING THE LIGHT: Thames Valley’s Andrew McCallum field City Region Mayor Dan the council to pay off the loans People agreed that Railfuture develops an elevator pitch with Railfuture’s membership Jarvis and Transport Minister Jo needed to finance the station. should be organising more director Wendy Thorne Johnson (since resigned). recruitment events in future. In the city centre, Shrub Hill Railfuture was represented by station has 40 parking spaces The pledge to recruit more new operations are funded entirely attract, including current and president Christian Wolmar, NORMAL FOR GERMANY: But at Sheffield Cathedral the tram-train is officially ‘a pilot project’ while Foregate Street has none. members was one of nearly 50 by our members across Brit- retired rail employees up to very vice president Paul Abell and pledges made by attendees to senior level, and our focus on rail Railfuture Yorkshire committee The council was helped to ain (individual rail travellers, Tinsley Chord in each direction develop a programme to trans- improvements that have a busi- member Mike Rose who took develop its business case for affiliated local rail user groups, while the vehicle is reconfigured form Railfuture into a more local authorities/parish councils ness case, we are a credible cam- the opportunity to enjoy the start for the change between Network the station by Ian Walters of active campaigning organisation. paigning organisation and our of the new service, which was SLC Rail who was a speaker at and local businesses), and our Rail and Supertram, the two net- It was a very useful day where views are taken seriously. blessed by sparkling weather. Railfuture’s Reading conference supporters (who pay a lower works having their own commu- lots of exciting ideas were devel- in November. rate but are not members of the “At local level, for example, we As an essential part of the tram- nications systems for one thing. oped by our dedicated volun- organisation). conduct station audits, whereby train pilot to discover the impli- He said that he has helped The modern shops make Park- teers as well as a fantastic num- we suggest improvements and cations of running a tram-train gate Retail Centre an attractive third parties to achieve their ber of pledges of action. We “This funding model enables us to be entirely independent of all help leverage local author- service under UK regulations, destination, and a new purpose- rail objectives. He has been now all need to deliver on those ity funding where an operator three trams an hour link Shef- involved in helping to plan for vested interests, whether it is the built footpath gives easy access pledges. cannot justify the expenditure field city centre and the Parkgate from the tram-train terminus, nine new stations, with three rail industry (including unions) themselves. Retail Centre, using the existing while the stop at Rotherham currently being built and five or political parties or groups. Jerry’s pitch “Our consistent pro-rail lobby- Supertram Meadowhall route Central station is very conve- under development. “As a result of this independence Jerry Alderson, Railfuture’s ing over decades has helped to then the new Tinsley Chord to niently located for the bus station we attract members from across He said: “The railway barons of director of finance and IT, in his change the perception of the rail- the Network Rail tracks through and the town centre. It was clear yesteryear used property sales elevator pitch made the follow- the political spectrum and we way in Britain so that all British Rotherham Central. on the first day of operation that to fund railways. We have to ing case: can engage with and influence all political parties now believe that The 27-minute journey serves there was much local interest in find ways of finding funds. Car “Railfuture is run entirely by levels of government in Britain. sustained investment in the rail- Meadowhall and Rotherham the new service. park revenue can be the key.” volunteers, all of whom are “Because of the wide range way network and train services town centre en route and will Unfortunately the service to Reading conference: Pages12-13 rail users, and our day-to-day of knowledgeable people we is vital.” enable the customer satisfaction, Parkgate had to be suspended on passenger numbers, reliability the first afternoon of public oper- and costs of tram-train operation ation after a collision between Chair’s column: Rail risks losing Government investment to be tested. one of the tram-trains and a For example, passengers may lorry in Attercliffe, but the route By Chris Page The growth in rail travel that we transport, pushing rail into a notice a short pause on the reopened the following day. Railfuture president Christian Wolmar (with scarf) on day one [email protected] have seen over the past 25 years downward spiral of service Rail now stands at a junction. is stalling however. This may in reductions and job cuts, just at The climate change report pub- part result from industrial dis- a time when investment in more Railfuture board takes steps to improve director competence lished on 8 October 2018 by the putes over modernising work- sustainable rail is needed to United Nations gave dire warn- ing practices making the rail reduce UK carbon emissions. By Stewart Palmer for all new directors and statement in advance of The purpose of this is not to ings of drought, floods, extreme service less reliable, and because All parties must therefore act in Railfuture vice-president any existing director the discussion, setting bar anybody from standing but [email protected] heat and poverty for hundreds the price motorists pay today for the interests of passengers and seeking re-election. In out their experience to make sure potential board of millions of people if carbon petrol and diesel is the same as the planet to reach a resolution, The Railfuture board runs the accordance with the and personal qualities members make an informed emissions are not reduced by they did in 2011 while rail fares rather than seeking capitulation. company and its directors articles of the company, that demonstrate their decision to stand, or not. have risen 25% over the same are responsible for setting 45% by 2030. Railfuture will continue to cam- any ordinary member suitability to be a board The returning officer may period. the strategic direction of the That is as close in the future as paign for sustained investment, can stand for the board. member. This will annotate a candidate’s election organisation. This is not going to 2006 is in the past! During the 1950s the govern- a reliable train service, and great Stewart Palmer enable the panel to have statement if they decide to stand ment response to prolonged customer service with value-for- In any company, directors have change. However, from a structured discussion Rail is the most energy-efficient but have not availed themselves Railfuture chair Chris Page industrial action on the railways money fares which together will onerous and specific legal now on, any member with the candidate. This will form of transport, and can be of the opportunity to have was to deregulate goods traffic promote carbon reduction, eco- responsibilities. It is therefore considering standing will be a discussion with the vice- zero-carbon if renewable elec- also be an opportunity for the technology for less-used routes on the roads, which decimated nomic growth and modal shift important that any potential able to avail themselves of the individual to explain their presidents’ panel. tricity is used. opportunity to have a structured where it may not be cost-effec- rail freight and hastened line to rail.